Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(32): “Ruling on Writing the Quran in a Style other than the Ottoman“

Date Added : 28-10-2015

Resolution No.(32): “Ruling on Writing the Quran in a Style other than the Ottoman“

Date: 7/11/1413 corresponding to 29/4/1993 AD.

The Board has received the following question:

What is the Sharia ruling on the following: writing the Noble Quran in a style other than the Ottoman? Adhering to one narration as regards the number of Quranic verses? Writing “ الله-محمد ” in a raised manner at the beginning of the Mus-haf or on its cover? Writing “ صدق الله العظيم “ at the end of the last verse of the Mus-haf and the end of a verse in an illustrative picture?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

The Board deems the following:

1- Writing the Mus-haf in a style other than the Ottoman is impermissible, except in educational books.

2- Adherence to one narration as regards the number of Quranic verses for there are specialized people in this field, who have acknowledged writing the Mus-haf and have also provided numbers at the end of verses in accordance with their preponderant opinion in that regard. Nonetheless, there is no harm in circulating a Mus-haf where the numbers of verses differ from that which is mentioned above, based on other narrations so long as the text is identical with the rest of the Mus-haf.

3- As regards writing " الله-محمد " : The Board doesn`t recommend doing so; however, it doesn`t have any objection as regards circulating Mus-hafs that already have them.

4- As regards writing “ صدق الله العظيم “ at the end of the last verse of the Mus-haf: The Board doesn`t recommend such a thing; however, it doesn`t object to circulating a Mus-haf in which this phrase is written after the chapter “ An-Naass “ , and in a pattern different from that used in the Mus-haf. As regards writing “ صدق الله العظيم “ at the end of illustrative pictures made by calligraphists to be hanged inside houses, there is no harm in that, provided that this phrase doesn`t give the impression that it is a part of the Quranic verse itself. And Allah Knows Best.

Iftaa` Board
Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Dr. Nooh Al-Qodaat
Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Abbadi
Dr. Ahmad Hilayel
Dr. Mahmood Al-Sartawi
Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi
Sheikh Mahmood Shwayaat
Sheikh Ratib Az-zahir

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on mentioning Allah`s name upon slaughtering an animal?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is a Sunnah (prophetic tradition) for the person slaughtering to say: "Bismillah" (In the Name of Allah), though the most complete and perfect phrasing is to say: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). This is in accordance with the words of Allah Almighty: "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned." (Al-An'am/118)
 
However, pronouncing it is not an obligatory requirement (Wajib). If someone omits it—whether deliberately or out of forgetfulness—the meat remains entirely lawful (Halal) to eat, though purposely omitting it is considered disliked (Makruh). And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

"I told my family at night: 'I will fast tomorrow as qaḍā' (a make-up fast),' but I forgot to make the intention before sleeping. Is my fast valid?"

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
 
The intention is obligatory in acts of worship. For obligatory fasting, the required intention is to resolve to fast during the night [before dawn]. Its proper locus is the heart, while verbalizing the intention out loud in acts of worship is a sunnah — so that the tongue may align with the heart. If the intent behind the statement in question was the intention to fast, then it is valid; but if the intent was merely to inform someone, or reflected hesitation or doubt, then it is not valid.
 
It is stated in *Bushrā al-Karīm* (Vol.1/P.216): "It is a sunnah to verbalize the intention — that is, whatever has already been intended in the heart, whether an obligatory or a voluntary act — such as specifying the number of rak‘ahs, just before the opening takbīr — so that the tongue may assist the heart, and because this is further removed from whispered doubts (waswasah), and in order to accommodate the view of those who held it obligatory in every act of worship that requires an intention (even though this is a minority position), by analogy with Ḥajj."
 
Accordingly: if the intention to fast arose in your heart before the second adhān [i.e., before Fajr], then your fast is valid.
 
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it valid to have Suhoor before sleeping, even if it is before midnight?

Suhoor refers to the pre-dawn meal eaten after midnight to help a Muslim endure fasting. The closer it is to Fajr, the better.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "My Ummah will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten to break the fast and delay Suhoor." [Narrated by Ahmad]
This is because delaying Suhoor makes it more effective in providing strength for worship. However, if there is a risk of Fajr entering while eating, one should refrain from Suhoor out of caution. 
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt." [Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi]

What is the ruling on delaying Zakat al-Fitr until after Eid day?

It is forbidden to delay Zakat al-Fitr beyond the sunset of Eid day. If someone delays it past Eid day without a valid excuse, they have committed a sin and must immediately make up for it because their obligation remains unfulfilled, and they must clear their responsibility.